Katherine Paterson has been named the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2010-2011. An award-winning author of books for youth, Paterson takes over for Jon Scieszka who was the first person named to this ambassadorship. We have many of Paterson's amazing books, including Newbery-winner Bridge to Terabithia.

So school started back on Monday, but are you already hoping for a snow day later this week? Are you tired of the little "dusting" and "flurries" we've gotten so far this winter? Have you been waiting for January when the snowflakes will be "ripe" enough to catch on your tongue? Are you ready for a full blown school-stopping, snowman-sustaining, hot-chocolate-inspiring snowstorm? If you are a grown-up did that last sentence strike fear in your heart? :)
Well, if you're serious about that snow day, one of the long standing "rituals" for getting one is to go to bed with your pajamas inside out. If that doesn't work, you can always have a snow day vicariously by checking out one of our Snow-themed movies from the children's library. Good Luck!

Attention 5th - 12th graders, make an awesome bracelet with rubber bands and beads. Register online today.
Program Date: January 12, 7:00-7:45PM

Celebrate Rudyard Kipling's birthday on December 30th! Read one of his many stories for adults or children, or find out more about his life.

The Canton Public Library has hit an all-time high in circulation, reaching our 2 millionth checkout of the year. That's an average of 23 items checked out per Canton resident. These economic times have spurred a 12% increase in library usage over last year, in which we also saw increased use. Our DVDs, books, CDs and video games continue to be popular items, we see many people using our computers or our Wi-fi to connect to the Internet and taking advantage of our databases and other electronic resources.

Our thanks to the Canton community for helping us reach this milestone. We look forward to serving you in 2010.

Hey Kids!!!
SANTA CAME!!!! And you know what? He brought me a little buddy! Which is, in fact, what his name is! Little Buddy, or LB for short. I've been having so much fun with my new friend! Now I have someone that I can play games with when the library is closed! The best part is that LB is travel-sized. That means that he can sneak into people's suitcases and go on vacation with them. I never get to go anywhere, so I am excited to see where LB ends up going!
I hope you and yours had a nice holiday too. Did you get anything? What did you do? Can't wait to hear all about it! Until next time!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

P.S. Here's a picture of LB! Better get used to him, because you might be seeing him a lot!

You might know Dan Gutman as the author of My Weird School and My Weird School Daze series. Or perhaps you like to read the books in his Baseball Card Adventures series. Well, just in time for the holidays, he has created a classroom fantasy story that you are sure to enjoy, The Christmas Genie. "When a meteorite crashes into a fifth-grade classroom at Lincoln School in Oak Park, Illinois, the genie inside agrees to grant the class a Christmas wish — if they can agree on one within an hour.

Celebrate Noel Streatfeild's birthday on December 24th!  Come to the library early (we're closed on the 24th and 25th) to check out some of her books.  My favorite is Ballet Shoes, and the library has many other fiction books about ballet, or informative books on dance.  Come check them out!

Hey Kids! 
I'm sooo excited that tomorrow is Christmas Eve!  I bet you all are too!  Did you know that Santa Claus visits the library?  Yup!  He does! It's because I'm such a nice bear. As you can tell from the picture--he's been coming for a long time.  It's a picture of me waiting for Santa way back before the Children's Library was expanded!  The hard part is the waiting, and it will be extra hard tomorrow because the library will be closed--so I won't have all of you to keep me busy until he gets here! 
   When Santa comes to the library, he lands on the roof of the library and slides down into our fireplace, just like he does at your house!  I made sure Miss Kristen bought extra cookies so that we'd have some for Santa. Because I'm a bear, I don't have to be asleep when Santa comes, so we chat a little bit, and I make him some Coffee to help him warm up and wake up!  If you were flying all day delivering presents--you'd need coffee too!  And sometimes I let him check out a book or two.  Since he's Santa he doesn't have to pay overdue fines if he doesn't return them until next Christmas.
    I can't wait to see what Santa brings this year.  I wrote a letter asking for a friend, because I get lonely at the library by myself.  Plus, there aren't enough bears here in Canton.  What did you ask Santa to bring you?  I'd love to know--reply to my blog!   Merry Christmas!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Registration for the library's Bollywood dance program has been extended to all patrons ages 10 and up. Come join Anuja Rajendra of Ann Arbor's BollyFit to learn some basic steps you can combine with popular Indian movie tunes to create an exciting, lively dance/exercise routine. No dance experience is necessary and program registration is now open. The program takes place Saturday, January 2, from 4:00-4:45PM - hope to see you there!

If you've ever wanted to dance like a Bollywood movie star, this program is for you! Anuja Rajendra of Ann Arbor's BollyFit is coming to teach some basic steps you can combine with popular Indian movie tunes to create an exciting, lively dance/exercise routine. No dance experience is necessary and the program is open to everyone! The program takes place Saturday, January 2, from 4:00-4:45PM and registration opens Saturday, December 19, @ 9:00AM - can't wait to see you there!

Do you and your kids need something fun to do? Why not come to the library for some fun activities. Registration is not required for any of the programs.

• Monday, December 21, 11:00AM-2:00PM: All Ages Videogaming (Mariokart, Wii Sport and more)
• Tuesday, December 22, 10:00AM-Noon: Create-a-Craft
• Tuesday, December 22, 2:00-4:00PM: Board Game Fun (YuGiOh, LEGOS, Chess and more)
• Wednesday, December 23, 1:00-1:45PM: Fun with Ronald McDonald (Visit the Happy Meal Exhibit and see Ronald's fun magic show!)

The fall season is an exciting time for many students who participate in their high school marching bands.  The months of hard work and preparation finally come to light on the football fields and in the many competitions.  Journalist, Kristen Laine, marched in an Indiana high school band, and later returned to the state to write American Band, the story of the Concord High School Marching Minutemen.  Her story portrays the lives of these high school students, who do not conform to the usual high schoo

Ludwig van Beethoven, probably born on December 16, 1770, is one of the most well-known classical composers of all times. He is often referred to as a "giant straddling two styles," the Classical and Romatic, and is famous for his tempestuous personality as well as powerful music. His life was full of many challenges, but he managed to soar above them all and bequeathe us with some of the most beautiful, moving, and immortal music ever. How many people have the courage and determination to overcome a harsh childhood? How many would be able to perform, conduct, and write music even though they were stricken with deafness? How many would have the courage to insult a military leader as powerful as Napolean once they realized he was a two-faced dictator instead of a freedom fighter? Despite the harsh realities of Life, Beethoven ended his last major work, the 9th Symphony, with an Ode to Joy.

Thank you to all of the families that joined us for our first Dad and Me Lego program. Over 30 families used their creative building skills to make this program a HUGE success. If you missed this event, please join us on Tuesday, December 22 from 2:00-4:00PM for Board Game Fun. There will be Legos, Yu-Gi-Oh, Chess and more!

If you are interested in getting tutored:

• You must be in third through twelfth grade
• If you are under 12, your parent must remain in the library
• You must bring the assignment, textbooks, calculators, and any other materials you need

Days and Times:
Monday from 6:00-8:00PM at the Plymouth District Library in the Teen Zone
Tuesday from 6:00-8:00PM at the Canton Public Library by the Teen Reference Desk
Wednesday from 6:00-8:00PM at the Plymouth District Library in the Teen Zone
Thursday from 6:00-8:00PM at the Canton Public Library by the Teen Reference Desk

*Tutors will not be here during the holiday break, they need a break too!

Join us Saturday Dec. 12 between 1:00 and 5:00 for our Pokemon Tournament. Bring your Nintendo DS and your copy of Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum for a tournament style poke-throwdown the likes of which you've never seen! No registration required.

Meet Steve Brixton, a fan of the Hardy Boys series and The Bailey Brothers' Detective Handbook. He is an aspiring detective who stumbles into a mystery involving the Maguffin quilt, a priceless artifact hidden by its last guardian before his death and is still missing. Steve must elude librarians, police, and the mysterious Mr. E as he tries to track down this elusive quilt containing secret coded information. Action, adventure, and laugh-out-load situations are all contained with the pages of this promising start for the Brixton Brothers series. Jeff Kinney, author of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, claims it is "a book kids will devour." Partake of The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett.

There's nothing better on cold, snowy days than curling up under a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book. If you're in need of any good reads to curl up with, keep in mind that Saturday, December 12, is National Day of the Horse. There's no shortage of horse books available at the library.

Did you, like me, miss A Charlie Brown Christmas last night? :(  Never fear.  ABC will be re-broadcasting it next Tuesday at 8pm.  :)   While you're waiting, CPL just got in a bumper crop of new Holiday movies.   Some of my newer favorites are A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.   And don'